Valley Farms, AZ Real Estate

Valley Farms is a two square mile area that was once a tiny community where several farms converge with its own identity that has since been swallowed up by Coolidge. Coolidge, named for President Calvin Coolidge is a small Arizona town, which is home to the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and Central Arizona College. The world famous Casa Grande Ruins are the remnants of one of the largest prehistoric structures built in North America. Built by the Hohokam sometime around 1200 AD, to this day no one knows what its exact purpose was. The do know however, it is a wonderful place to visit and allow your imagination to wander and envision what life then must have been like. Written accounts from visitors to the abandoned site appear as early as 1694. The first visitor who gave it the name “casa grande” was Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino, a name that stuck and was even adopted by the neighboring town, prior to Coolidge’s existence.

Last year, the monument organized the first music festival to celebrate the O'odham's connection to their Hohokam roots and it seemed as if all of Coolidge’s residents came to check it out. This year’s festival was even more successful than last year’s debut, drawing the locals as anticipated by their reviews the previous year and a surprising number of out of town attendees as well. Indian jewelry, art and woodcarvings on display, in some instances available for purchase, were a reportedly a big draw for many returning attendees.

While the storytellers sharing tribal legends mesmerizing the young, others watched the demonstrations of Indian craftsman weaving baskets and spinning pottery. No matter what daytime attraction lured them there, it seemed all in attendance loved the listening to the ancient music, under a full moon at the illuminated monument. The links to O’odham’s ancient Hohokam roots that survive and are celebrated in the beautiful music that wafted through the air that evening created the perfect ending to a wonderful day. This is sure to be a festival that this community will look forward to for years to come, if the buzz at the café on Arizona Blvd, the day after the festival is any indication.

Coolidge, in case you were unaware, is also a favorite place for thrill seekers. Skydive Coolidge is Arizona's friendly drop zone, with the most hospitable training facility in the west. If falling from the sky is a bit too much, but you love aviation, the WWII hanger hosts a very popular fly-in breakfast the first Saturday of every month. You will find upwards of 100 planes on the hanger's apron on the morning of the breakfast and inside the hanger you will find pilots a buzz with conversation and laughter.

Coolidge is not a large city, as it has a population of a little over 8,000, with a well balanced mix of age groups. It is a very friendly town with its own identity and where you can find a moderate priced home, Walmart, Safeway, McDonalds and select other conveniences without the congestion many people are seeking to get away from. Unlike many other towns in the eastern Phoenix metro area, you will find lots of Arizona natives living here. Many grew up on one of the surrounding farms that isolate it from the fifth largest city only 56 miles away. Coolidge is a wonderful choice if you are seeking to get away from it all and enjoy life at a more moderate pace.